Follow us on Twitter to find out about our latest videos, publications, news and other resource updates.
Palm PDAs have a standard Memo application that allows the user to read and write pure text only files of up to 4K, which is about one A4 page of 10-point text. These text files are synchronised between the Palm and the host computer using a specified folder (e.g. My Documents).
The Pocket PC operating system has an inbuilt word processor called Pocket Word, which is a version of the Microsoft desktop Word Application optimised for the Pocket PC platform. The Activesync software allows the user to convert Word files to Pocket Word file format and vice versa. The software allows for synchronisation between files edited or created on either platform with the preservation of advanced desktop presentation formatting.
In the Pocket Word version users can use basic colour RTF (bold, underline, bullet points etc) style formatting. The package also includes a spell checker (in the form of predictive text ) that offers up to five suggestions.
[ Top of page ]
One of the common mistakes of using a PDA is to try to 'do everything' that you would on a desktop. Attempting to do full publication designing on a PDA is inefficient both in time and effort. But using a PDA to accomplish basic text editing and simple formatting can aid the creative and design process.
On PDAs there are three types of text entry applications:
This is a suite of office style application including (Word to go, Excel to go, etc). The basic package is now bundled with most of the new Palm based PDAs. The Word-to-go application allows the user to create, edit and view Word documents with RFT style formatting. But advanced formatting presentation features are preserved in the desktop versions. Uniquely though the professional version of the suite includes a PDF and PowerPoint viewer.
A review of Documents to go by Palm Power Enterprise
QuickOffice (Shareware)
This is a suite of office style applications including (Quickword, quicksheet etc) and has many of the features of Documents-to-go suite. Uniquely though, the QuickWord application uses the Font Bucket program and has 11 levels of zoom.
A review of QuickOffice by Dgotech
WordSmith (Shareware)
This is a simple word processor that has an easy to use Windows conduit. It has a WYSIWUG interface that supports colour RFT style formatting.
A review of Wordsmith by Handmark
This is a reasonable word processor that supports basic formatting and has an easy to use Windows conduit, with spellchecker.
[ Top of page ]
Checking for spelling mistakes is a computation consuming process that can take a lot time. The Pocket Word application comes with an inbuilt spell checking and correction facility that copes well with most common mistakes. The Pocket PC version acts very similarly to the Desktop version with a pop-up box that appears when each error is detected. The user then has the choice of a few suggestions, the ability to add the word to the user dictionary, and the facility to ignore the error.
The Palm OS PDAs (at the moment) use much slower processors, so this means that the spell checking process can take much longer.
There are many spell checking applications or dictionary applications for Palm with a spell checking facility. However the following package is quiet innovative and useful.
This is bundle package that includes two applications. QuickCheck is a palm extension application that works in the background or all applications and checks for spelling errors, when detected the program displays a red wavy line (variable colour line design) under the word. This gives any application the same spelling error highlighting facility as Microsoft Word. The reason this is particularly powerful on a Palm OS is that it works in the background and the user does not have to wait for the spell checking to be completed. This means that common typo's and spelling errors will be quickly visually highlighted. The second application is a spell checking application that provides suggestions for each error. It uses a pop-up box that appears when activated in any application. Both applications have a user dictionary that you can add or remove uncommon words.
[ Top of page ]
There are several word prediction applications that are primary used for speeding text entry. On of the main difficulties of word prediction is that the predicted words are often presented away from the focus of the typed text. The font size of the predicted words is often also no increasable.
The Pocket PC operating system has an inbuilt word prediction facility that allows the user to choose from a list of words that floats above the onscreen keyboard. The application can start predicting after you have typed a variable number of letters, the user can also adjust the number of word suggested.
Palm OS has no inbuilt word prediction facility.
Pocket PC OS Additional word prediction software
This is a combination of an alternative onscreen keyboard and word prediction. The keyboard is much smaller than the native one but has a list of predicted words to the left of the main keys. The keyboard also responds by highlighting the keys in different colours to alert the user to the possibility of a predicted word being presented.
Outline tools are applications that allow the user to organise notes, agendas, to-do lists into a hierarchal format. This can be very useful for project management and organising thoughts into a linear structure.
Shadow22 Outliner for Palm OS (Shareware)
This is a simple plain text outline tool with categorisation options. The application has an in built text editor with two views (a small dialog box and a full screen interface). It uses the Font bucket program to allow the user to select the application font. A desktop application and conduit is available that allows the user to create, edit and view Shadow outline files.
A review of Shadow Outline tool by Pocket Goddess
[ Top of page ]
This is simple to use to-do and list style outliner tool. The tool allows you to set hierarchal folders that contain list files. Each of the list files has a separate user interface that you can list a to-do item with various categorisations, a check box and a prioritisation level. Note files can also be added to each list item.
A review of List Pro by Dgotech
Pocket Outliner for Pocket PC (Shareware)
This is a hierarchal notes system of collapsible title (can be short sentences). The user can set the colour of the text at different hierarchal levels and use checkboxes for each title. Usefully files can be exported to a simple hierarchal bullet point style HTML page or a simple indented linear text file.
[ Top of page ]
Using electronic Mind mapping and concept mapping is a way of organising one's thoughts without being restricted to a linear format of text entry. This type of visual note-taking is commonly used by those with dyslexia (or other specific learning difficulties) and business management.
Pocket PC and Palm OS Mind Mapping Software
This is an outline based mind mapping tool. Only the central name and the first level of hierarchy are shown as a simple visual mindmap. In the outline view the user can add branch title at the same or lower level. The branches can be dragged and dropped. Note files can also be attached to each branch along with a selection of icons.
A review of Mind Manager Mobile by PC magazine (2002)
This is a mind mapping application that allows a branch and leaf style structure. The central idea can be lined by up to 10 branches each with a further option of 8 additional branches. Each note or branch label can be up to 9 characters (including spaces) with the option to a note file and a choice of icons. The mind map can be exported to the desktop application MindMapper, to a Shadow Outline format text file or to a standard memo file.
 |
 |
|
